Former Mayor Derek Dobies Announces Bid for Jackson Public School Board

Dobies Plans to Focus on Student Retention and Attraction, Deepening Community Engagement, and Building to Educational Opportunities

Jackson, MI — Former mayor of the City of Jackson, Derek Dobies, today announced his candidacy for Trustee on the Jackson Public Schools Board of Education. Dobies led the city through a renaissance that ushered in a revitalized downtown, burgeoning civic and community engagement, and investments in public infrastructure and neighborhoods. He aims to bring the same level of hard work and service he gave to the city to the community’s public school system.

“I grew up the son of two public school teachers who instilled in me the value of a quality public education. As mayor of the City of Jackson, I understood that the success of our community is tied to the success of our school system, and that for Jackson to thrive, we must ensure our students, parents and teachers are supported by a strong, vibrant school system,” said Dobies. “Now the father of a 1st grader in Jackson Public Schools, I am running to serve as a trustee on the Jackson Public Schools Board of Education to make sure that students across greater Jackson have access to the same educational opportunities I want for my daughter.”

Dobies said he believes his experiences as mayor and as a community advocate will allow him to help the district with student attraction and retention. He plans to help Jackson Public Schools continue to provide quality education by deepening engagement in the community, investing in teachers, listening to parents, and supporting pathways to post-secondary educational opportunities.

Dobies said after declining to seek a third term as mayor he was recruited to run for Trustee by a number of teachers, parents, and administrators. He has already earned the endorsements of incumbent Jackson Public School Board of Education President Angela Mitchell, Vice President Pam Fitzgerald, Secretary Cheryl Simonetti, Treasurer Erin White, and Trustees Libby Brown and Shalanda Hunt. Across the community, Dobies enjoy the support of City of Jackson Mayor Daniel Mahoney, Vice Mayor Arlene Robinson, and Councilmembers Freddie Dancy, Angelita Gunn, Karen Bunnell, and Will Forgrave among others.

“Derek has the support of an overwhelming majority of the current Board Members because — just like he was for our city — we know that he will be a champion for our school system and will work to attract and retain the students of tomorrow,” said JPS School Board President Angela Mitchell. “With Derek Dobies, we know Jackson Public Schools will have an effective leader who can work with parents, listen to our teachers, and always put the interest of our students first.”

Dobies was the first mayor to be reelected in the city in the last fifteen years. Prior to that, he served a term and a half as a City Councilman and Vice Mayor, and gained experience on a number of city boards and commissions. He currently serves as Chief of Staff of the Michigan AFL-CIO and Executive Director of the Michigan AFL-CIO Workforce Development Institute.

He lives in Jackson with his daughter, Novalee, and their cat, Frank.

The election for School Board is November 8, 2022. More on Dobies’ campaign is available at www.DerekDobies.com

###